Mechanical joint assembly and a method of assembling such an assembly

Abstract

A joint assembly includes an inner ring, an intermediate member housing the inner ring about a joint axis and, an outer body retaining the intermediate member. The intermediate member defines two first surfaces formed by cylindrical portions having the same first axis of revolution which intersects the joint axis. The outer body defines two surfaces formed by cylindrical portions having the same second axis of revolution. When the assembly is in an assembled state, the first axis of revolution coincides with the second axis of revolution and the first and second surfaces cooperate to enable the intermediate member to rotate relative to the outer body about the first axis of revolution but prevent the intermediate member from moving parallel to the joint axis or parallel to an axis orthogonal to the joint axis and to the second axis of revolution.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a mechanical joint assembly, in particular a swivel assembly. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of assembling such an assembly. In the aviation industry, it is known to use a mechanical joint assembly for preventing two members, such as a rod and a structural part, from moving in relative translation, while nevertheless allowing those members to move relative to each other in rotation. A mechanical joint assembly serves in particular to compensate locally for the deformation and / or movement of an aircraft in operation.[0003]2. Brief Description of the Related Art[0004]A prior art mechanical joint assembly, in particular a swivel assembly, generally comprises an inner ring such as a ball core in which a shaft is mounted, an intermediate member defining a housing in which the ball core swivels, and an outer body defining a chamber for retaining the intermediate member....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a compact swivel assembly that has a long lifetime and is relatively simple to assemble. The assembly includes an inner ring, an intermediate member, and an outer body. The intermediate member has two first surfaces that co-operate with two second surfaces on the outer body to enable rotation of the intermediate member without movement parallel to the joint axis or to an axis perpendicular to the joint axis. The first surfaces are formed by portions of the same circular cylinders, and the second surfaces are also formed by portions of the same circular cylinders, but with different diameters. The dimensions of the chamber and the ratio of the greatest dimension of the intermediate member to the amplitude of movement in translation relative to the outer body are optimized for the movement of the intermediate member. The invention also provides a method for assembling the swivel assembly. The technical effects of the invention include relatively low contact pressures, high ability to retain lubricant, and limited overall size of the swivel assembly.

Problems solved by technology

Nevertheless, the plane bearing connections formed between these respective plane surfaces present relatively limited capacity to accommodate contact.

In addition, with machining of ordinary quality, the respective plane surfaces of the outer body and of the intermediate member give rise to plane bearing connections that are not perfect, since these planes come into contact only along two lines.

That is why contact pressures between the outer body and the intermediate member are relatively high, thereby reducing the lifetime of the swivel assembly.

In addition, such plane bearing connections present relatively limited capacity to retain lubricant.

In addition, such plane bearing connections do not prevent the intermediate member from moving in translation relative to the outer body along the axis of the joint, such that a swivel assembly of the prior art also needs to include a blocking component to retain the intermediate member in the chamber along the axis of the joint.

Such a blocking member increases overall size, cost, and difficulty of assembling such a swivel assembly.

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